A genuinely progressive Buddhism?

[Pasanna]

@laurence

I don’t feel nuns or monks should have to segregate their communities as much as possible in order to protect their autonomy and independence. I believe all forms of discrimination should be done away with and we should openly celebrate that. If others want to say that Buddhists who practice this way - now or in the future - are not real Buddhists that’s fine. May they be well and happy! Each to their own in a pluralistic society!

I think the gender segregation is a good idea. It might not be a problem for anyone but I think that Aj. Brahmali’s argument below is pretty solid. Plus it avoids other forms of gender streotypes which would otherwise happen. ie the men doing the chainsawing and brushcutting (because they’re stronger) and the women the cleaning.

Is there a "place" in the west for a monastery that is home to Bhikkhus AND Bhikkhunis?

From my perspective the issue is not really about whether bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs should live together, but whether in general it is a good idea to mix the genders in a monastery. Attraction often takes time to develop, and the more exposure you have to someone the greater the likelihood is that you will be attracted to them. The attraction that develops over time is much more insidious and dangerous than the immediate sort of fancy, since it involves a deeper involvement with and attachment to t…

Here is the article I was talking about from Bhante Hiriko.